In a double-blind placebo controlled trial, the efficacy of Vitamin E in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) was studied in 32 patients. After a two week wash-out phase a baseline (0 week) TD rating was assessed on the tardive dyskinesia rating scale (TDRS). Subsequently, the patients entered a four week treatment phase during which 17 patients received capsules of vitamin E (600 mg) and 15 patients received identical placebo capsules. In the first week the patients received 1 capsule daily which was then increased to two capsules per day from the second to the fourth week. All patients were rated on the TDRS at the end of each week. The baseline TDRS score in the vitamin E group was significantly higher than the placebo group. This was hence adjusted and the results were then subjected to analysis of co- variance. The TDRS score after four weeks treatment was significantly lower in the vitamin E group as compared to the placebo group (p = 0.03).

Eleven patients (8 males, 3 females) undergoing limb-lengthening procedures were subjected to weekly conventional radiography along with fortnightly skeletal sonography of the distraction site, to assess the rate of new bone production and complications. The radiographs were assessed for: (i) distance between the distracted bone ends, (ii) presence of new bone formation at the distraction site, (iii) regeneration of the cortical outline and (iv) overlaying soft tissue abnormality. The sonographs were assessed for: (i) distance between the distracted bone ends, (ii) rate of new bone formation, (iii) density of the new bone produced, (iv) integrity and continuity of the cortical outline and (v) overlaying soft tissue abnormality. Our results indicate the superiority of sonography over conventional radiographs in: (i) detecting early new bone formation, (ii) establishing cortical and medullary canal remodelling, (iii) detecting soft tissue complications at the distraction site and (iv) determining the presence of fluid collection at the distraction site, in patients with delayed consolidation. Conventional radiographs were more accurate in determining the distance between the two distracted bone ends, and thus the degree of distraction achieved. Ideal assessments of events at the distraction site can be achieved by a combined assessment of conventional radiotherapy and skeletal sonography.

Coagglutination test was compared with commercially available latex agglutination test (Rotalex kit) for detection of rota virus in faecal samples from clinically suspected cases of viral gastroenteritis. Out of 80 test samples 16 (20%) and 20 (25.3%) were positive for rota virus antigen by Rotalex kit and coagglutination test respectively. All the 40 controls were negative for viral antigen by Rotalex kit and only one gave positive result by coagglutination test. Coagglutination test was found to be economical, sensitive and specific for screening and rapid diagnosis of Rota virus diarrhoea.

Exudative v/s transudative ascites: differentiation based on fluid echogenicity on high resolution sonography.

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HM Malde, RD GandhiPMID:0008051641

Real time sonography was performed in 52 patients with ascites to evaluate the accuracy of sonography in differentiating an exudative from a transudative collection. The echogenicity of ascites was graded I, II and III using the echogenicity of normal abdominal viscera as comparative standard reference points. Grade I collections (31 patients) were either absolutely anechoic, or showed few internal echoes secondary to particulate matter. Grade II collections (7 patients) were hypoechoic as compared to the liver and spleen. Grade III collections (14 patients) had an echogenicity similar to or greater than that of the liver and spleen. The results of diagnostic aspiration in all patients were then compared to the sonographic grade of the ascitic fluid. All transudates (28 patients) had a Grade I echogenicity. Only 3 patients with an exudative ascites had a Grade I echogenicity. The remaining 21 patients with an exudative collection had an echogenicity equal to or greater than Grade II. Using these results, an ascitic fluid echogenicity of Grade I had a 92.32% sensitivity, 100% specificity, a positive predictive value of 1 and a negative predictive value of 0.875 in diagnosing transudates. An ascitic fluid echogenicity of Grade II or more had a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 1 and a negative predictive value of 0.903 in diagnosing transudates.

A prospective randomised trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of method of scrubbing the operative site for ten minutes with an antiseptic (GpA; n = 68) with a simplified method where the antiseptic was merely painted onto the operation site (GpB; n = 67). The median age, sex distribution and the types of procedures done in each group were similar as was the antibiotic policy. There were a total of 11 patients who got infected, 6 in the group A and 5 in the group B. No significant difference could be demonstrated in the infection rates between the two groups. It is concluded that the old method of prolonged scrubbing the operation site can safely be omitted to a more simplified version.

Menstrual and reproductive history of 178 women referred to the thyroid clinic was compared with 49 healthy controls. Cases were classified as euthyroid, hypothyroid or hyperthyroid after clinical examination and after serum T 3 , T 4 , TSH measurements. Reproductive history was related chronologically to symptoms and signs of thyroid dysfunction. Only 31.8% of hypothyroid and 35.3% of hyperthyroid women had normal menstrual pattern in contrast with 56.3% of Euthyroid and 87.8% of healthy controls (p < 0.001). Reproductive failure (infertility, pregnancy wastage, failure of lactation) occurred in 37.5% of hypothyroid and 36.5% of hyperthyroid cases against 16.3% of euthyroid and 16.7% of healthy controls (p < 0.05). Interestingly, in 45% of cases with menstrual abnormality, the anomaly was antecedent to other clinical features by a variable period of two months to ten years. Reproductive failure and lactation failure also preceded thyroid dysfunction or goitre. Reproductive dysfunction may therefore be considered as one of the presenting symptoms of thyroid disorders in women, keeping in mind both menstrual irregularities and lactation failure may also arise from other common or idiopathic origins. Especially in women with menstrual irregularities in the perimenopausal age if thyroid dysfunction is detected, pharmacotherapy may be a superior alternative to surgical interventions like hysterectomy.

A 2 year old male child presented with mass on right side of abdomen. The clinical diagnosis of renal lump was made and rest of the examination did not reveal any abnormality. His intravenous pyelography showed non-functioning left kidney. Cystoscopy and ascending pyelography on left side showed normal ureteric orifices and crossing of the left ureter to opposite side. Ectopic kidney was removed without any damage to the lower pole of the right kidney.

A diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of ovary was made in a 60 year old female presenting with generalised weakness and abdominal lump. On clinical examination, a hard, big mass with some cystic areas was found occupying the pelvic cavity. Chest X-ray revealed presence of metastases. Deranged renal function and structure due to extrinsic pressure were evident on pyelography and USG. USG also suggested the ovarian origin of the mass. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was suggestive of leiomyosarcoma. Laparotomy was carried out for excision of tumor along with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy. Post-operatively renal functions normalized. A course of radiotherapy was given. At 6 months' follow-up, abdomino-pelvic sonography was normal but lung metastases were found to be enlarged. The patient was asked to follow up for chemotherapy but did not come. She died 18 months after treatment, as revealed through correspondence.

During 1st week of post-operative period, a 28 year old female patient operated for left cerebellopontine angle tumor, continued to get fever. Lumbar puncture did not reveal any organisms. She responded to ciprofloxacin. Two months later, she was readmitted with signs and symptoms of meningitis. The CSF tapped on lumbar puncture grew Xanthomonas maltophilia, Gram negative bacilli, sensitive to various antibiotics, ciprofloxacin being one of them. The patient was given ciprofloxacin for 3 weeks. On follow up, a year later she was found to be asymptomatic.

We present a case of visceral larva migrans which came as a complete histologic surprise. The patient was operated as a case of chronic cholecystitis and was found at operation to have multiple hepatic nodules. A cholecystectomy with a biopsy of the liver nodule was performed. Histopathologically a diagnosis of visceral larva migrans was made. To our knowledge this is the first case report of the disorder from India. A discussion based on the review of literature is presented.

Eight hours following tympanoplasty performed under general anaesthesia (sodium pentothal and trichloroethylene), a 30 year old male complained of muscular weakness and dark coloured urine. Urinalysis revealed myoglobin pigment. A rise in BUN (47mg%), serum creatinine (5.7mg%), creatinine phosphokinase (15,500 U/L) and CPK-MB fraction (4690 U/L) was noticed 36 hrs later. The patient developed acute renal failure, and recovered after haemodialysis. From a history of use of succinylcholine as a muscle relaxant during operation, myoglobinuria appears to be secondary to muscle damage caused by succinylcholine.

Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis was found at autopsy in a 17 year old male patient of fibrolamellar type of hepatocellular carcinoma with pericardial metastases. This had resulted in multiple embolic cerebral infarcts with long standing hemiplegia and later death due to acute left ventricular failure.